Liquid applicator for strip material

ABSTRACT

A liquid applicator, particularly for applying a moistening agent or a glue to a label comprises, a housing made up of two parts, namely, a lower housing part forming a reservoir for the liquid material and an upper housing part having a sloping wall forming a label feeding channel and a mounting for a hand feed roll which is located over the channel. The lower housing part is characterized by a reservoir formation having end walls which are shaped in the form of a pouring spout to facilitate the outpouring of the liquid within the reservoir when the device is not to be used. The construction includes an open mounting for rotatably supporting each end of a grooved reservoir roller, an upper transfer roller which together with the lower reservoir roller forms the reservoir applicator means which are supported in open bearings formed by an end of the housing and by a hookshaped closing element which is advantageously made up of a plastic material, such as Teflon. The construction permits the pressure engagement of the two rollers and the lower reservoir roller is advantageously provided with a spiral groove to provide a smooth application of the liquid from the reservoir to the upper roller. The two rollers are driven from a gear which is carried on a shaft for the main hand feed roller carried on the upper cover portion. This gear meshes with the upper roller gear and drives the two rollers at a speed which is slightly greater than the speed of feed of the label material in order to provide a wipening action of the liquid on the label as it is advanced between the applicator roller means and the feed roller. The cover also forms a mounting for open top receiving shells which are also advantageously made of a plastic material and which resiliently engage a rod member carrying spaced fingers which tangentially engage against the surface of the upper applicator roller to ensure that the label which is fed is lifted off its surface.

United States Patent Sharpe et al.

[ 5 Dec. 26, 1972 [54] LIQUID APPLICATOR FOR STRIP MATERIAL [73] Assignee: Better Packages Inc., Shelton, Conn.

[22] Filed: Jan. 15, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 106,745

[52] US. Cl. ..ll8/244, 118/245, 118/246, 118/249 [51] Int. Cl. ..B05c l/00, B05c H04 [58] Field of Search ..l18/244, 245, 246, 248, 249, 1 18/247 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,468,287 9/1969 Hill ..1 18/246 2,820,974 H1958 Hodge ..1 18/244 X 1,830,316 ll/l93l Ettl i ..1 18/246 X 2,517,263 8/1950 Voorhies ..1 18/249 1,804,365 5/1931 Price .118/245 2,162,854 6/1939 Minkou l 18/245 A liquid applicator, particularly for applying a moistening agent or a glue to a label comprises, a

"an upper housing part having a' sloping wall forming a label feeding channel and a mounting for a hand feed roll which is located over the channel. The lower housing part is characterized by a reservoir formation having end walls which are shaped in the form of a pouring spout to facilitate the outpouring of the liquid within the reservoir when the device is not to be. used. The construction includes an open mounting for rotatably supporting-each end of a grooved reservoir roller, an upper transfer roller which together with the lower reservoir roller forms the reservoir applicator means which are supported in open bearings formed by an end of the housing and by a hook-shaped closing element which is advantageously made up of a plastic material, such as Teflon. The construction permits the pressure engagement of the two rollers and the lower reservoir roller is advantageously provided with a spiral groove to provide a smoothapplication of the liquid from the reservoir to the upper roller. The two rollers are driven from a gear which is carried on a shaft for the main hand feed rolle'r carried on the upper cover portion. This gear meshes with the upper roller gear and drives the two rollers at a speed which is slightly greater than the speed of feed of the label material in order to provide a wipening action of the liquid on the label as it is advanced between the applicator roller means and the feed roller. The cover also forms a mounting for open top receiving shells which are also advantageously made of a plastic material and which resiliently engage a rod member zassz mz rssacfi a new, assassinate a ensure that the label which isfed is lifted off its surface.

1 6 rawinaliissras.

PATENTEDHEBZS I972 SHEET 1 OF 3 FIG.5

4 TI'ORNEYS PATENTED nu: 26 m2 SHEET 3 UP 3 INVENTORS 5 525 5 SHARPE BY lb/1415mm: f. Hum/5s LIQUID APPLICATOR FOR STRIP MATERIAL SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to strip moistening and gluing devices and, in particular, to a new and useful device for moistening or gluing one side of a strip of material such as a label which is formed of two housing parts, one of which forms a pouring reservoir for the material and which includes simple means for mounting two reservoir rollers such that an even feeding of the liquid material from the reservoir to a strip materia is effected.

This invention is an improvement over that disclosed and described in US. Pat. No. 3,468,287 dated Sept. 23, 1969, particularly in respect to the formation of the housing in two parts, including a lower part which forms a reservoir in the form of a pouring spout and an upper part which provides the mounting for the feed roller and a cover for the lower part. The present invention also provides an improved means for mounting a reservoir pickup roller and a reservoir applicator roller so that they may make firm engagement with each other, spring biasing of the pickup roller in an upward direction ensuring proper transfer of the liquid from the pickup roller to the applicator roller. In addition, the pickup roller is provided with grooves which are preferably arranged in a spiral and the drive for the rollers is such that there is a wiping action of the liquid from the applicator roller to the label as it is fed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved strip material moistening device which includes a lower housing having one end with a spout formation for facilitating the outpouring of the material and an upper part which covers the lower part and which may be easily removed therefrom without disassociating the driving mechanism. A further object of the invention is to provide an applicator housing with means for mounting applicator roller means in the form of one or more pickup and transfer rollers in open top bearings and which is formed as a pouring spout with an open spout end to facilitate the outpouring of the material therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a liquid applicating device such as a label moistener or glue applicator, which includes a lower part having a mounting for two rollers which provide for the pickup and transfer of the liquid material and an upper housing which provides a rotatable mounting for a hand feed roll and a guideway for the infeed of the label to the feed roll, the hand feed roll being connected with a shaft having a gear which drives the two rollers in the reservoir when the top cover is closed over the lower housing part.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strip material moistening device which is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of a label moistening device or gluing device constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the bottom portion of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 "1s a front elevational view of the device indicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4--4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein comprises, a label gluer or moistener, generally designated 10, having two principal housing partscomprising a lower part generally designated 12 and an upper part generally designated 14.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the upper part includes a central inclined portion 16 located between two side portions or side walls 18 and 20 and which provides a downwardly inclined chute or guide path for a label to be moistened or glued. The side portions 18 and 20 provide a mounting for a rotatable shaft 22 of a hand feed roller 24 which is located centrally in the central inclined portion 16. The periphery of the roller 24 is spaced only slightly from the lower end of the central inclined portion 16 and it is located directly over a slot 26 in the central inclined portion 16 (FIG. 4) into which is positioned a pressure plate 28. The pressure plate 28 is biased by a spring 30 into engagement with the feed roller 24. A label 32 which is fed down the central inclined portion 16 engages between the feed roller 24 and the pressure plate 28 and it is advanced by rotation of the feed roller 24 by an individuals hand moved in the direction of the arrow 34 as indicated in FIG. 5. v

A feature of the construction is that, in addition to the function of the cover as a guideway for the label and a mounting for the hand feed roller 24, it also provides a cover for the lower housing part 12. All of the operating parts which are contained in the upper part 14 are lifted with the cover when it is lifted off the lower part 12. This exposes the complete open top of the lower part 12 and it permits the pouring out of the liquid 34 from a reservoir portion 36 through a spout portion 38 formed at one end of the lower part 12. This spout portion is formed by two convergent wall portions 40 and 42, as shown in FIG. 2, and the lower part 12 may be gripped by the fingers of the hand from the rear wall 45 and the contents spilled out through the spout 38.

A further feature of the construction of the bottom portion is that the operating roller parts comprising the applicator roller means may be easily placed in position or removed as desired to facilitate either assembly or disassembly and removal of the liquid as desired.

The applicator roller means comprises a lower reservoir roller 44 and an upper roller or applicator roller 46. The lower reservoir roller 44 is supported in open topped bearing members 48 and 50 which are carried on pivot pins 52 and 54 which are secured to respective side walls 56 and 58 of the bottom part 12. Each bearing arm 48 and 50 includes an open top bearing recess for receiving the respective end of a shaft 60. This permits the reservoir roller to be dropped in or lift'ed out of its receiving hearing as desired. A spring 64 which engages around a respective one of each of the pins 52 and 54 biases the respective arms 48 and 50 upwardly.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, resilient engagement of the upper roller 46 with the lower roller 44 is achieved when the upper roller 46 is engaged on a notch receiving recess 65, (FIG. 6), 66

(not shown) which is defined in each respective side wall 56 and 58. One end of each of the recesses 65 and 66 are closed by hearing members 68' and 70, respectively. A shaft 72 of the upper roller projects from each endof the roller and it may be positioned in the associated bearing recess 64 or 65 by positioning it so that it enters from the open end of the bearing members 68 and 70, respectively. The periphery of the upper roller 46 then bears against the lower roller 44 and causes a tensioning of the spring 64 so that the two rollers are held in mating engagement by resilient contact.

The drive of the rollers 44 and 46 is affected through engagement of gears 74 and 76 on the respective shafts 60 and 73 of these rollers. The upper roller 46 also carries a gear 78 (FIG.2) which is driven from a gear 80 affixed to the shaft 22 containing the main hand feed roll 24.

The gearing is so proportioned that the lower pickup roller 44 which rotates in the liquid or glue 34 will transfer glue'fromthe reservoir to the applicator roller 46 and the layer applied will then be moved to a position (upon rotation of the upper roller 46) so that a film of fresh glue is applied to the applicator roller 46 and located in the label feed path by the time the leading edge of the label approaches the surface of the applicator roller. The gears 78 and 80 are so dimensioned that the surface speed of the applicator roller 46 is a little faster than the label speed to cause a slight wiping action of the applicator roller on the label for better glue distribution.

The pickup roller 44 is provided with a grooved surface, in this instance, a continuous spiral or helical groove 82, which extends along the length thereof. The mounting of the two rollers is such that the proper thickness of glue on the surface of the applicator roller is achieved for applying glue to the label in the correct amount. Not enough glue would cause poor adhesion of label and too much glue will allow the label to slip around the item being labelled. Glue will also ooze out the sides and if another package isplaced on top of the parcel which has been labelled, they will stick together.

With the inventive construction, the two rollers are properly spaced and in biased engagement under the influence of the spring biasing means acting on the lower roller to ensure the metering out of the proper amount of glue. This thickness is only 2 or 3 thousandths of an inch and the mounting of the rollers in the manner of the invention permits correct alignment as far as straightness, concentricity, etc.

The space over the applicator roller means is covered on the top by a removable plate 82 which is fastened at each end to the respective side wall portions 18 and 20. Plate 82 defines a top guide for the feeding of the labels and the bottom of the label is moved into contact with a portion of the periphery of the upper applicator roller 46.

The device has a further feature in the provision of open topped receiving bearings 84 and 86 which are arranged at each end of an exit channel or discharge 88.

'(FIGS. 1 and 3) A rod member 90 is snap-fitted at each end into the respective receiving bearings 84 and 86. For this purpose, thereceiving bearings 84 and 86 are made of a plastic material having sufficient resiliency to permit the bearing side walls to be spread apart to accommodate the rod 90. The rod 90 carries'a plurality of sleeve members 92, each ofwhich carries a guide finger 94. The sleeve members 92 may be slid along the rod 90 to position the fingers ata desired spacing. The op posite ends of the fingers have a curved lower end 93, (FIG. 5), which rides over the surface of the upper roller 46 and the top surfaces of the guide fingers 94 provide liftoff guides for the labels which direct the labels upwardly off the associated roller 46. For this purpose, the top surfaces are provided. with spaced protuberances 96 which define valleys therebetween to ensure the release of the label from the fingers and the drums and the accurate guiding of the label through the exit mouth of the device.

The operation of the device is as follows:

A label 32 is placed on the central inclined portion 16 and pushed slightly downwardly to obtain a slight initial engagement in the nip between the pressure feed roller 24 and the counter pressure plate 28. With the fingers of the palm of one hand, 98, as shown in FIG. 5, the feed roller 24 is rotated or pushed away causing the rotation in the direction of the arrow 100 and the ad-' vance of the label 32 until its forward edge engages over the top of the roller 46. The rotation of the feed roller 24 causes rotation of the gear 80 which is affixed to the shaft 22 and it, in turn, causes rotation of the gear 78 carried by the roller 46. The gears 76 and 74 carried on the roller 46 and the roller 44, respectively, provide for the synchronous rotation of the upper applicator roller 46 and the lower roller 44. The gearing is such that there is a transfer action of the engaged surfaces of rollers 44 and 46, during the applying of the glue from the roller 44 to the roller 46, and the grooves 82 aid in producing a spreading action to provide a uniform distribution of the glue over the roller 46.

When the label moves to a point at which it contacts the upper roller 46, glue has already been coated over the surface of this roller at this location, so that the label immediately picks up the glue. As the label is fed forward over the surface of the roller, it is deflected by the pickup fingers 94 and moves off on the surface of these fingers to the position at which it may be transferred from the gluer to a place of use. The pickup fingers 94 strip the label from the surface of the roller 46 in an easy and simple manner.

Thus, the invention provides a simple construction for a liquid or glue applicator, and it provides a housing of two parts, with the lower part forming a pouring spout. In addition, the upper part provides a convenient mounting for the feed roller and the driving gears which automatically move into meshing engagement with the gears in the lower portion of the housing when the two housing parts are juxtaposed. The lower housing part provides means for easily and simply mounting the two applicator rollers including a lower roller 44 which is adapted to move in the liquid and to apply it to the upper roller and a upper roller 46 which is adapted to contain the liquid on its surface and to applyit to a label which is fed thereover. Each of the rollers may be lifted out of the simple open top bearings and the bearings are constructed such that the rollers are biased into cooperative engagement by the opposing force of the biasing spring 64. The construction also includes a simple pressure plate construction wherein the pressure plate is held by the wire spring 30 which is easily and simply held in a receiving openings 102 and 104 of the upper housing part 14.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. A liquid applicator for strip material particularly a label gluer, comprising a housing having a lower part with walls forming a reservoir, said lower part having an open top, said housing having an upper part comprising a member complementary in size to said lower part and being engageable over said lower part to close and cover said lower part, said housing upper part having an inclinedwall on its top surface forming a strip material in-feed channel, a feed roller rotatably mounted upon said upper part in a position overlying said infeed channel and being adapted to engage and feed strip material delivered to said in-feed channel, said in-feed channel having a slot underlying said feed roller, a pressure plate in said slot, means biasing said pressure plate toward engagement with said feed roller, said pressure plate and said feed roller defining a nip therebetween between which the strip material is fed when said feed roller is rotated, applicator roller means in said reservoir for picking up and presenting liquid thereon for coating the strip material located adjacent said feed roller and spaced from said slate in a position to contact the underside of the strip material fed by said feed roller, and gear drive means connected between said feed roller and said applicator roller means for driving said applicator roller means at a speed faster than said feed roller.

2. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 1, wherein said lower housing part includes spaced apart spout forming walls adjacent one end forming a spout connected to said reservoir and having a pouring discharge adjacent one end of said lower part.

3. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 2, wherein said spout forming walls converge, the bottom of said spout being defined by a bottom wall which is at a level higher than the bottom of said reservoir.

4. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 1, wherein said means biasing said pressure plate comprises a wire spring having one end engaged against said pressure plate, said housing having a receiving opening therein engaged with the opposite end of said wire spring.

-5. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 1, wherein said applicator roller means comprises a lower roller mounted in said housing lower part in a position at which a bottom portion extends into said reservoir and an upper roller having a peripheral surface engaged with the peripheral surface of said lower roller with the top of said peripheral surface being located in a position to receive the underside of the strip material.

6. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 5, including bearing means in said lower part for supporting said upper and lower applicator rollers in a manner in which they engage each other by biased contact.

7. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 6, including spring means biasing the lower roller upwardly, said upper roller resting on said bearing means with its surface engaged on said lower roller.

8. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 1, wherein said lower housing part includes a first bearing support arm carried on the interior of said housing adjacent to each side thereof and including a substantially horizontally extending portion located in said reservoir, said horizontally extending portion defining an open-topped receiving bearing, said applicator roller means including a lower roller having a shaft portion supported on said open-topped receiving bearing, and means biasing said-support arm to move the horizontal supporting portion in an upward direction.

9. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 8, including a bearing slot defined in said lower part walls adjacent each side thereof, said applicator roller means including an upper roller having an upper roller shaft engaged in said bearing slot with its surface in engagement with said lower roller surface, the sizes of said rollers being such that said upper roller is urged upwardly by said lower roller so that its shaft is not engaged in the bottom of said receiving slot.

10. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 9, including a bearing upper member carried on said lower part housing in a position overlying said slot and confining said shaft of said upper applicator roller against removal in an outer direction from said slot.

1 1. A liquid applicator for strip material, particularly a label gluer, comprising a housing having a lower part with walls forming a reservoir and including spaced apart converging vertical spout-forming walls adjacent one end of said reservoir with a horizontal wall therebetween forming a spout connected to said reservoir and having a pouring discharge adjacent one end of said lower part, said lower part having an open top, said housing having an upper part engaged over the open top of said lower part and forming a cover therefor, feed roller means carried by said upper housing part and defining a nip for the feed of a strip material therebetween, reservoir roller means carried by said lower housing part including upper and lower applicator rollers with the upper roller being located to deflect strip material being fed by said feed roller means over the surface thereof, said lower applicator roller has a spiral groove extending from one side to the other, and a plurality of fingers carried by said upper housing part adapted to rest against the surface of said upper roller and defining lift-off members for deflecting the strip 

1. A liquid applicator for strip material particularly a label gluer, comprising a housing having a lower part with walls forming a reservoir, said lower part having an open top, said housing having an upper part comprising a member complementary in size to said lower part and being engageable over said lower part to close and cover said lower part, said housing upper part having an inclined wall on its top surface forming a strip material in-feed channel, a feed roller rotatably mounted upon said upper part in a position overlying said infeed channel and being adapted to engage and feed strip material delivered to said in-feed channel, said in-feed channel having a slot underlying said feed roller, a pressure plate in said slot, means biasing said pressure plate toward engagement with said feed roller, said pressure plate and said feed roller defining a nip therebetween between which the strip material is fed when said feed roller is rotated, applicator roller means in said reservoir for picking up and presenting liquid thereon for coating the strip material located adjacent said feed roller and spaced from said slate in a position to contact the underside of the strip material fed by said feed roller, and gear drive means connected between said feed roller and said applicator roller means for driving said applicator roller means at a speed faster than said feed roller.
 2. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 1, wherein said lower housing part includes spaced apart spout forming walls adjacent one end forming a spout connected to said reservoir and having a pouring discharge adjacent one end of said lower part.
 3. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 2, wherein said spout forming walls converge, the bottom of said spout being defined by a bottom wall which is at a level higher than the bottom of said reservoir.
 4. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 1, wherein said means biasing said pressure plate comprises a wire spring having one end engaged against said pressure plate, said housing having a receiving opening therein engaged with the opposite end of said wire spring.
 5. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 1, wherein said applicator roller means comprises a lower roller mounted in said housing lower part in a position at which a bottom portion extends into said reservoir and an upper roller having a peripheral surface engaged with the peripheral surface of said lower roller with the top of said peripheral surface being located in a position to receive the underside of the strip material.
 6. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 5, including bearing means in said lower part for supporting said upper and lower applicator rollers in a manner in which they engage each other by biased contact.
 7. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 6, including spring means biasing the lower roller upwardly, said upper roller resting on said bearing means with its surface engaged on said lower roller.
 8. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 1, wherein said lower housing part includes a first bearing support arm carried on the interior of said housing adjacent to each side thereof and including a substantially horizontally extending portion located in said reservoir, said horizontally extending portion defining an open-topped receiving bearing, said applicator roller means including a lower roller having a shaft portion supported on said open-topped receiving bearing, and means biasing said support arm to move the horizontal supporting portion in an upward direction.
 9. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 8, including a bearing slot defined in said lower part walls adjacent each side thereof, said applicator roller means including an upper roller having an upper roller shaft engaged in said bearing slot with its surface in engagement with said lower roller surface, the sizes of said rollers being such that said upper roller is urged upwardly by said lower roller so that its shaft is not engaged in the bottom of said receiving slot.
 10. A liquid applicator for strip material, according to claim 9, including a bearing upper member carried on said lower part housing in a position overlying said slot and confining said shaft of said upper applicator roller against removal in an outer direction from said slot.
 11. A liquid applicator for strip material, particularly a label gluer, comprising a housing having a lower part with walls forming a reservoir and including spaced apart converging vertical spout-forming walls adjacent one end of said reservoir with a horizontal wall therebetween forming a spout connected to said reservoir and having a pouring discharge adjacent one end of said lower part, said lower part having an open top, said housing having an upper part engaged over the open top of said lower part and forming a cover therefor, feed roller means carried by said upper housing part and defining a nip for the feed of a strip material therebetween, reservoir roller means carried by said lower housing part including upper and lower applicator rollers with the upper roller being located to deflect strip material being fed by said feed roller means over the surface thereof, said lower applicator roller has a spiral groove extending from one side to the other, and a plurality of fingers carried by said upper housing part adapted to rest against the surface of said upper roller and defining lift-off members for deflecting the strip material off the surface of the upper rollers on the side thereof remote from said feed roller means, said upper applicator roller being in engagement with said lower roller, and spring means biasing said lower roller upwardly into engagement with said upper roller at a pressure to wipe the liquid off the surface of said lower roller and permit transfer of liquid only from the groove of said lower applicator roller. 